By Tim Price, originally published on Next New Deal
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The Next Elizabeth Warren (TNR)
If you've ever been annoyed by your internet provider, return the favor by reading John Judis's profile of Roosevelt Institute Fellow Susan Crawford, who's taking on the telecom giants and fighting to make high-speed internet access as ubiquitous as electricity.
The United States of Sequestration (MoJo)
Timothy Murphy highlights how sequestration has affected all 50 states in the six weeks since its $85.4 billion in cuts began to kick in. From closed Head Start programs to furloughed workers, nothing brings the whole country together quite like terrible policy.
Sequestration 101: If a Budget Cut Doesn't Affect the Wealthy, Congress Won't Fix It (The Nation)
Bryce Covert argues that there's a reason flight delays consumed the media and Congress's attention while other cuts are ignored: Policymakers actually listen to rich people's complaints, whereas everyone else sounds like one of Charlie Brown's teachers.
Meals On Wheels Sequestration Cuts Taking Effect (HuffPo)
Case in point: With Meals On Wheels set to deliver as many as 19 million fewer meals this year due to funding cuts, Arthur Delaney reports that some recipients are actually questioning whether it's worth feeding them if it means that others will go hungry.
Washington's Backward Retirement Policy: So Wrong, and Yet So Easy to Fix (The Atlantic)
James Kwak argues that there would be plenty of money to shore up Social Security's finances without cutting benefits if the government stopped giving it to people who don't need it (and don't particularly care if they get it) in the form of 401(k) and IRA subsidies.
Are Democrats Moving Away from "Debt Crisis" Rhetoric? (Prospect)
Jamelle Bouie writes that instead of offering voters a choice between lots of enthusiastic austerity and a little less regretful austerity, even moderate Democrats seem to be realizing that they're betting off drawing a clear distinction and emphasizing growth instead.
House Republicans Eyeing New Hostage Opportunity (NY Mag)
Jonathan Chait notes that Republicans are once again plotting to force a debt ceiling showdown, but instead of tying it to deficit reduction like last time, they're now demanding a version of tax reform that makes deficit reduction the only thing you can't do.
No Rich Child Left Behind (NYT)
Sean Reardon writes that while the racial achievement gap in education has been narrowing, the income-based achievement gap is widening as rich parents sink more resources into giving their little darlings that leg up that a trust fund alone can't provide.
Tim Price is Editor of Next New Deal. Follow him on Twitter @txprice.